Is West Kelowna a hotbed of violent crime?

If you were to believe Macleans Most Dangerous Cities list, you害羞草研究所檇 definitely have cause to consider that possibility.

West Kelowna is ranked 69 of 237 Canadian cities.

Kelowna ranked a much safer sounding 148, which is a significant improvement from last year when the rating was 34.

RELATED: Vernon one of Canada害羞草研究所檚 most dangerous places

Go back six years and Kelowna gained the dubious distinction of ranking as Canada害羞草研究所檚 sixth most dangerous city.

Before you pose for a selfie in some Okanagan branded kevlar, remember these stats come from a hodgepodge of data that includes everything from violent crimes and car break ins害羞草研究所攖he latter of which often bumps Okanagan cities way up the list.

What may be more relevant than methodology, however, is how the rankings alter perceptions.

In the U.S., the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose statistics are used in similar articles on their side of the border, said rankings 害羞草研究所渓ead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting cities and counties, along with their residents.害羞草研究所�

You could argue we害羞草研究所檝e already had 害羞草研究所渕isleading perceptions害羞草研究所� getting in the way of this community害羞草研究所檚 growth.

The Central Okanagan has its fair share of social ills. You害羞草研究所檇 have to be blind to not have noticed the proliferation of shopping carts belonging to people who have no house to call home.

You害羞草研究所檇 have to be deaf to not know that there are a ghastly number of people dying from drug overdoses.

READ MORE: B.C. overdose deaths drop in June, but 100+ still dying each month

But do these things have anything to do with one another? Do they actually create legitimate cause to fear for your well-being?

We don害羞草研究所檛 think so.

In fact, we think that the erroneous belief that this city is getting more dangerous creates barriers to providing the services needed to help the community害羞草研究所檚 most vulnerable.

Often, in the run-up to the recent civic election, 害羞草研究所渉omelessness害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渃rime害羞草研究所� were used interchangeably, when that害羞草研究所檚 far from the case.

That kind of fearmongering sets a dangerous course for any city.

So let害羞草研究所檚 look past the rankings and look more closely at the communities they describe.

edit@kelownacapnews.com
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